Free

Penn State: 26 people get $59.7M over Sandusky

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) -- Penn State said Monday it is paying $59.7 million to 26 young men over claims of child sexual abuse at the hands of former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky. The school said 23 deals are fully signed and three are agreements in principle, but did not disclose the names of the recipients. The school faces six other claims, and the university says it believes some of those do not have merit while others may produce settlements. University president Rodney Erickson issued a statement calling the announcement a step forward for victims and the school.

Father, toddler girl dead in Pa. murder-suicide

FORTY FORT, Pa. (AP) -- Authorities say a northeastern Pennsylvania man has fatally shot himself after killing his 1-year-old daughter. WNEP-TV reports that authorities at the scene in Forty Fort have confirmed Nick Shultz shot himself and his 1-year-old daughter, Camryn, in the town a few miles north of Wilkes-Barre. Police in Forty Fort and the Luzerne County coroner did not immediately return calls about Sunday's shootings. But family members tell the station that Shultz and the girl's mother had recently separated. The girl was to have celebrated her second birthday on Tuesday.

Lou Reed, iconic punk poet, dead at 71

NEW YORK (AP) -- Lou Reed, the punk poet of rock 'n' roll who profoundly influenced generations of musicians as leader of the Velvet Underground and remained a vital solo performer for decades after, died Sunday at 71. Reed died in Southampton, N.Y., of an ailment related to his recent liver transplant, according to his literary agent, Andrew Wylie, who added that Reed had been in frail health for months. Reed shared a home in Southampton with his wife and fellow musician, Laurie Anderson, whom he married in 2008.

Fire at Yuengling Brewery: $1M damage estimated

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- Authorities say a fire in a storage building at a Yuengling Brewery complex in Tampa has caused an estimated $1 million in damage and took about an hour to control. The Tampa Tribune reports (http://bit.ly/HmwWOC ) workers were evacuated safely when the fire erupted Saturday evening. Tampa Fire Rescue Capt. Lonnie Benniefield released the damage estimate early Sunday. A Tampa Fire Rescue statement says the fire has been ruled accidental by investigators, and they are still seeking the exact cause.

Police in Pa. say trail of fries led to suspect

LANCASTER, Pa. (AP) -- Police in central Pennsylvania say they found a suspected groper of a fast-food worker by following a trail of curly fries. It started when a female employee at an Arby's in East Lampeter Township, Lancaster County, called police Wednesday night saying she was groped by a man as she handed over his order at the drive-thru window. The employee gave police a description of the car, which was found outside a motel less than a mile away.

College says squirrel vandalized bicycle

ESTHERVILLE, Iowa (AP) -- A squirrel roaming a community college in northern Iowa has become the No. 1 suspect in a vandalized bicycle incident. Officials at Iowa Lakes Community College in Estherville say the rodent chewed through two tires, a bicycle seat, a headlight and a taillight in the span of two days beginning Wednesday. The Sioux City Journal reports (http://bit.ly/1gN9Vnk ) the bicycle owner, an associate math professor, reported the incidents to Estherville police. Another professor later came forward with a photo that shows the squirrel attacking the bike.

Mom's 'heart is broken' over teacher killing

DANVERS, Mass. (AP) -- The mother of the Massachusetts teenager accused of killing his teacher inside a school bathroom is brokenhearted over the educator's death and seeks prayers for her son, according to a statement released Saturday by her son's defense attorney. Diana Chism also asked for prayers for the family of slain Danvers High School teacher Colleen Ritzer, saying her "heart is broken for the Ritzer family and the loss of their daughter and sister."

No more Heinz ketchup at McDonald's?

McDonald's has lost its taste for Heinz ketchup. The fast-food giant said in a statement Friday that it is cutting ties with the condiment company after 40 years due to management changes there. A former Burger King CEO became head of Heinz in June after the company was bought by Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway and 3G Capital. 3G, a Brazilian investment firm, also controls Burger King. The impact of the change may be tasted more overseas. In the U.S., McDonald's uses Heinz products only in Pittsburgh and Minneapolis restaurants.

Actor: Store stopped me because I'm black

NEW YORK (AP) -- A black actor on the HBO drama series "Treme" (treh-MAY') says he was stopped because of his race while buying sunglasses at a New York City Macy's department store and has filed a lawsuit against it. Robert Brown's lawsuit comes after two other black shoppers made similar claims against Barneys New York this week. Brown's lawsuit was filed Friday in state Supreme Court in Manhattan. It says he was stopped by police at the Macy's Herald Square store after employees contacted authorities about possible credit card fraud.

Pages